There is hope for hungry, homeless

November is fast approaching, and with it comes Mission:Change’s 3rd Annual Hope for the Hungry and Homeless Sleep Out. While our previous two Sleep Outs defied even our high expectations, we’re looking to raise the bar yet again in our continuing efforts to raise money and inspire action for the homeless and food insecure throughout our community.

Along with musical favorites from previous years, like Gabriel and the New Priest, we’re excited to announce that this year’s musical headliner will be Dove Award winning singer/songwriter Charlie Hall and his band. The TJ Mauldin Band will be rounding out the lineup for what is sure to be a fantastic night of live music. We’re also thrilled to announce that this year’s keynote speaker will be Vaden Earle. Vaden is the author of “One: A Face Behind the Numbers” and founder and CEO of the not-for-profit, Absolute Leadership Development. It promises to be an unforgettable night of community entertainment, education and action!

With the increasing popularity of the event, this year’s Mission:Change Sleep Out will be located at the Albany Exchange Club Fairgrounds at Westover Boulevard and Oakridge Drive on Nov. 12 from 6:30 p.m. until 7 the next morning.

All proceeds and items collected during the Sleep Out will benefit The Salvation Army, Second Harvest of South Georgia, Flint River Habitat for Humanity, and Mission:Change. The Salvation Army provides temporary shelter for the homeless. Second Harvest of South Georgia provides food and other grocery items to more than 300 partner agencies comprised of soup kitchens, rescue missions, abuse shelters, and other non-profit organizations. Flint River Habitat for Humanity aims to eliminate sub-standard housing. Mission:Change aims to raise money and awareness, and provide services for local individuals, causes and organizations in need.

It is easy to get involved! Simply download and fill out the appropriate forms from www.missionchange.com, raise a minimum of $100 in pledges from family, friends and businesses, and show up the night of the Sleep Out with your box and blankets. If you do not have a box, there will be some provided for you!

You can become a sleeper in two ways. If you’re participating by yourself, print and fill out the Registration & Consent and Waiver of Liability form (found at www.missionchange.com), raise a minimum of $100, and show up the night of the event with everything you need to make your box creative and cozy.

You can also participate as a team sleeper with your friends, family, book club, church group, knitting circle, whatever! Round up as many people as you can, fill out the requisite forms from our website, and, like the solo sleepers, endeavor to raise $100 per person for everyone on your team. Note: while only one Team Sign Up form is needed per team, each participating member needs to fill out a Registration & Consent and Waiver of Liability.

The Boxed-In Design Contest is back this year! We want you to put your thinking hats on and design a cardboard box shelter that best exhibits the themes of this Sleep Out. For a full set of rules, acceptable materials, awards categories and entry form, simply download the Boxed-In Design Contest form from our website. To give everyone ample time to let their creativity flourish, decorating will begin at midnight this year.

Not spending the night but still want to get involved? Though we encourage everyone to become a Sleeper for the night, anyone is more than welcome to come enjoy the phenomenal bands and guest speakers we have lined up. After all, this is a night about community. Donations will be accepted at the gate.

You do not have to attend to donate. You can either mail a donation (Mission:Change/P.O. Box 834/Albany, GA 31702; make checks payable to Mission:Change with a memo of 2010 Sleep Out) or donate online at our website via PayPal by clicking on the donate button. No PayPal account is needed.

You can also visit our online store, where 100 percent of the net proceeds from every mission-specific product sold go directly to our missions. Sponsors are also needed. As a gold sponsor ($500) your company will be advertised on t-shirts, banners and our web site. In addition, gold sponsors will receive complimentary registration and T-shirts for 2 sleepers. Silver sponsors ($250) will also be advertised on T-shirts and at the event.

There are no age restrictions. Everyone is invited to participate. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult, or be a part of a registered group (which, likewise, must have an adult chaperone.) Anyone under 18, whether registered individually or with a group, must also turn in the Parent /Guardian Written Agreement and Consent form found on the Registration form.

For More Information:David Blackwell Mission Project CoordinatorPresident of Board of Directors886-1257david@missionchange.com.

(Albany resident Walter Petruska is a professional photographer and community volunteer.)

About the author

Tom Knighton is the publisher of The Albany Journal. In November, 2011, he became the first blogger to take over a newspaper anywhere in the world. In August of 2012, he made the difficult decision to take the Journal out of print circulation and become an online news agency, a first for the Albany area.